Reviews of Phan Lan Guesthouse

29 August 2011 Seth would recommend this property

Liked: I spent a month at Phan Lan while taking an ESL teaching certification course. It was an excellent stay. Both receptionists speak English pretty well, and were genuinely concerned about our stay being a good one. We had some good conversations with them too. Tours were never pushed on us, but they do book them for their guests. We found the staff honorable and trustworthy, something important for us when staying a long time. The decor is classy. The rooms had a small fridge, TV and lockable storage locker. Beds had sheets and blankets. Room was clean. For breakfast there, we usually had an omelet, bread, banana(s), pineapply juice and tea or coffee. It was a good breakfast, and better than what some cafes offer for breakfast. If you'd like more food variety, Sozo and Highlands cafes are nearby. Overall, a great experience, and I will stay there anytime I need a hotel in HCMC.

Disliked: They don't have a common area, like a lounge, as some people have noted, but quite a few guesthouses don't. Phan Lan does have a receptionist area and dining room though.

17 July 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Friendly staff and clean room.

Disliked: Not ideal to meet other travellers.

11 June 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: I like where the hotel was located. Right on the main strip of bars and restaurants, but behind where the action was. So it was not too loud.

Disliked: There are many other hotels that are in the area that are cheaper, and have the same facilities to offer. We were going to stay for 3 nights, but only stayed for 1, and moved somewhere that was cheaper. We booked a pick up from the airport, but our flight was delayed. Nobody was there to pick us up, so we payed for our own ride, and the owner also made us pay for half of the pick up that we did not use.

20 April 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: the hostel was very clean, the stuff speaks english very well, it's possible to book tour at the hostel

Disliked: the mekong-tour we booked at the hostel was nice but we had better tours (better organisation

03 April 2011

Liked: The location

Disliked: No room to meet people in

02 April 2011 Scott would recommend this property

Liked: Staff was very friendly and helpful

Disliked: nothing

27 February 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Excellent service,very friendly and helpful staff and great location

Disliked: nothing

22 February 2011 sally would recommend this property

Liked: nice location, staff and breakfast

Disliked: nothing

16 February 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Location was perfect. Just a little side street of all the pubs. No noise fromt the street. And just 5 to10 minutes walking to benh tanh market.

Disliked: Because it is a guesthouse without a common room it is not the place to meet people

09 February 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: good place to meet people. Staff was nice and no problem to get want you needed help with.

Disliked: there is a lot of noise from the alley and the sound went right through the windows -as anywhere else in HCMC. guess it is a part of the charm:)

08 February 2011 Paulina would recommend this property

Liked: The staff were super friendly and helpful, and the room was nice and clean and great location. Good breakfast, free internet.

Disliked: It may be a bit tricky to find initially as it is in a little laneway off the main road.

07 February 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The photos actually don't do the property justice, at least the sister hostel Nguyen Trang just across the way, which is where we stayed. The rooms are fairly compact, but the decor gives the place a boutique feel. The alleyway in which the hostel is located has lots of character and is set back from the main road, Pham Ngu Lao, so is quiet yet in very close proximity to lots of stylish bars and restaurants (I would recommend cafe Thi for its arty feel). The main road is also the stopping place for lots of intercity buses, so we literally stepped out of the bus from Phnom Penh and walked across the street to check in (good if you have heavy luggage!). The staff are very friendly and there is a basic breakfast included consisting of baguette, jam and butter, omlette and fruit. There are also lots of tours on offer for fairly low prices, although if you don't want to be with 40 other tourists it might be an idea to book a private tour (to the Cu Chi tunnels, for example).

Disliked: We were upgraded for the first night to a bigger room, as all twins/doubles were booked out and, whilst this was nice, it meant we had to move the next day and from the 1st floor to the 5th and there are no lifts. Also, the internet connection did not reach to the fifth floor, so it meant coming down everytime to gain access. Having said this, there is a free computer at reception so internet is always available. The shower in the bathroom was not very powerful on the 5th floor either, and the water temperature was more lukewarm than hot.

13 January 2011 Markus would recommend this property

Liked: It's ok, nothing special but a solid offer for that central location. I think the value for the price could be better! Fridge was empty, no soap in the bathroom, no window (normal for the narrow tall house type of Vietnamese cities). In other places in Vietnam you get much more for the same price but then again, this is the center of Hanoi.

Disliked: HostelBookers has recently started to make this field a must, I think that's stupid.

21 December 2010 Philip would recommend this property

Liked: It was in a good location on a quiet side street off the main backpacker street. Staff were very friendly. Easy to book tours and onward transport etc.

Disliked: I think we probably could have got tours and currency exchange cheaper out on the street, but then again we couldn't be bothered to do that!

19 December 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: staff were exceptional, very clean, we booked 3 days and stayed a week. It will be the first place we look at when we are next in saigon

Disliked: nothing

18 September 2010 EDURNE would recommend this property

Liked: The staff was excelent!!!!

Disliked: EDURNE left no negative feedback.

06 August 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: location, clean rooms

Disliked: we had to change rooms during our stay. The staff wasn't particularly friendly.

03 July 2010 Julie would recommend this property

Liked: Very helpful for arranging bus tickets.

Disliked: Julie left no negative feedback.

23 May 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The staff is very friendly and helpful. :)

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

17 May 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Very good location, friendly staff, helpful, value for money, highly recommend, just that if no air cond, may be hot but that is the weather.

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

17 May 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Very clean, staff is helpful and friendly. Good location. Value for money.

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

28 April 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: oll right

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

23 April 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: gute Lage

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.

13 April 2010 James would recommend this property

Liked: good loctaion and value for money, staff were friendly, would stay here again.

Disliked: James left no negative feedback.

11 April 2010 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The room is clean. Location is close to main tourist attactions.

Disliked: Customer left no negative feedback.